Chapter 17 is the last chapter in this discourse. I am glad that I have made it this far, but it is bittersweet. The challenge that Owen sets forth is alien. There is true adventure in this work, and I have to say, this book has become a watershed moment in my life. Having read this book before, it amazes me how sovereign God is in all His dealings with His children. The Father decided that now was the time that I would see my sin. Believers, you serve a great God.
In this chapter, Owen evinces the strength of sin by showings its resistance against the power of The Law. The Law cannot conquer this enemy. The Law "entices" the enemy in a way. It does this by first "discovering" the law of sin that is in the heart. The Law is the agent who discovers this great enemy in the heart. Paul said, "I had not known sin, but by the law." Owen continues,
Sin in the soul is like a secret hectical distemper in the body--its being unknown and unperceived is one great means of its prevalency.
In the law's discovery of this enemy, the law also informs us of its nature. This inbred enemy is evil. We are only aware of this because of the law. It is the law that informs the soul of its vileness and its deadly effect. The law pleads with the soul, "It is a deadly foe." Scripture tells us, "For the wages of sin is death."
Not only these two things, namely, the discovering of sin and its revealing its nature, but the law pronounces judgment on the person. Owen says,
"Abide in this state and perish," is its language. It leaves not the soul without this warning in this world, and will leave it without excuse on that account in the world to come.
In this, we are able to see the power of the law. When the law pronounces judgment upon the individual, it "affrights the soul and slays the soul." The law is quite right in saying, "You are that man," and leaves us with no hope in the world.
Despite this great work of the law, the discovery of the enemy, informing of the enemy’s nature, and its pronouncement of judgment, it will never conquer the law of sin that abides in the soul. You would think that this would be enough to conquer any enemy. If any force were able to locate an enemy, having both its position and its intent, and then gave instruction on the attack, you would think the force were handicap if they could not subdue the enemy. Oh, how we are handicap! This great enemy would conquer all if God were not gracious!
Owen then sets the reader up. He says, "Do we not see it by experience, that many are wrought upon by the preaching of the law to a relinquishment of many sins and amendment of their lives?" Of course, the answer is positive. The preaching of the law does caution men of their sin. We know many people who feel the guilt of their sin and forsake some habit for a season. Nevertheless, go back a year later, maybe two if not in a shorter time, and the law of sin will burst forth with even more strength. This is because the enemy was not killed. The fruit of the enemy was done away with, but the root stood strong through the storm of the law. Owen gives an illustration,
As a traveler, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way to some house or tree for his shelter, but yet this does not cause him to give over his journey,--so soon as the storm is over he returns to his way and progress again; so it is with men in bondage unto sin.
This is the frustration in life. So many people are weighed down with their guilt from sin. Feeling guilty, they go to church and hear the Word of God spoken. However, not being regenerate, they are unable to discern spiritual things and hear the Law pronounced against them. This causes them to promise to themselves that they will not perform this certain thing nagging them. Then, they make a vow to themselves or even maybe to their imagination of God. Since the motives were wrong from the beginning and the heart never changed by grace, the sinner is soon back in the mire of transgression. This leads to such frustration and discouragement that the sinner will give up hope of ever "matching up." This is the only remedy that the unregenerate are aware of in combating sin, this vowing. All hope is lost, and the law of sin has full reign since they have no weapon to fight against the enemy. Now, I know this is not the case 100 percent of the time, God does give effectual call some in this same situation. However, I feel that if we look into many of our churches today we could find this story somewhere in the pew.
The law, therefore, cannot conquer this enemy. The law only enrages and entices this deadly enemy. It brings a sentence, but not pardon. It brings the disease, but no remedy. However,
The Holy Ghost compares sinners, because of the odious, fierce, poisonous nature of this indwelling sin, unto lions, bears, and asps, Isaiah 11:6-9. Now, this is the excellency of gospel grace, that it changes the nature and inward principles of these otherwise passionate and untamed beasts, making the wolf as the kid, the lion as the lamb, and the bear as the cow.
Repentance from sin and trusting in Jesus Christ will always do what the law can never do. Saving grace will make the heart brand-new. The old heart is killed, and the new heart has reign. The enemy within still has life, but it is on its deathbed. Believers, you will always have this old man nagging at you from his deathbed. He will call to bring him food, water, and entertainment. However, when Jesus Christ returns, all things will become new. The old man will finally die and the elect will give glory to God the Father in Jesus Christ by their indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This, my friends, is the hope we wait for. This life is to come. On that day, we will understand that everything was created for glorifying God. We wait for this day.
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